MCP Observer
An MCP server that provides server-to-client notifications for file changes that the client subscribes to
What is MCP Observer?
MCP Observer is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to mcp server that provides server-to-client notifications for file changes that the client subscribes to
An MCP server that provides server-to-client notifications for file changes that the client subscribes to
This server falls under the File Systems and Developer Tools categories on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- An MCP server that provides server-to-client notifications f
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx mcp-observerConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use MCP Observer
MCP Observer is a Python-based MCP server that implements the MCP resource subscription protocol, allowing clients to subscribe to file paths or directories and receive real-time server-to-client notifications whenever those files change. Unlike polling-based approaches, it uses the MCP notifications mechanism so the client is pushed an update with a timestamp the moment a subscribed file is modified. This makes it useful for triggering AI workflows when configuration files, data files, or code files are updated.
Prerequisites
- Python 3.10+ with uv package manager (recommended) or pip
- An MCP-compatible client that supports resource subscriptions and notifications (e.g., the MCP Inspector, or a custom client)
- The mcp-observer-server repository cloned locally
- Make (optional, for using the provided Makefile shortcuts)
Clone the repository
Clone the mcp-observer-server repository to your local machine.
git clone https://github.com/hesreallyhim/mcp-observer-server.git
cd mcp-observer-serverInstall dependencies with uv
Install the project dependencies using uv. This sets up the isolated Python environment the server needs.
uv syncCreate the default watched file
The server's default subscription target is src/mcp_observer_server/watched.txt. This file is .gitignored and must be created manually before starting the server.
touch src/mcp_observer_server/watched.txtStart the MCP server
Use the provided Makefile target (which uses uv) or run the server script directly. The server communicates over stdio.
# Using make
make start
# Or directly
uv run src/mcp_observer_server/server.pyConnect with MCP Inspector and subscribe to a file
Launch the MCP Inspector to connect to the server over stdio. Use the subscribe_default tool to watch the default file, or the subscribe tool with a custom path. You can also browse List Resources and click Subscribe in the Inspector UI.
npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector uv run src/mcp_observer_server/server.pyMCP Observer Examples
Client configuration
Stdio-based MCP configuration for the observer server. Adjust the path to match where you cloned the repository.
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-observer": {
"command": "uv",
"args": ["run", "/path/to/mcp-observer-server/src/mcp_observer_server/server.py"]
}
}
}Prompts to try
Interaction patterns for the MCP Observer server using the three exposed tools.
- Use the 'subscribe_default' tool to start watching the default watched.txt file
- Use the 'subscribe' tool with path='/path/to/config.yaml' to watch a custom file
- Use the 'unsubscribe' tool with the resource URI to stop watching a file
- After subscribing, modify the watched file and observe the notification appear in the client's notification panel
- List available resources to see all currently watchable filesTroubleshooting MCP Observer
Server starts but no notifications are received when files change
Verify your MCP client supports the resource subscription protocol and notifications. The MCP Inspector supports this natively. Standard Claude Desktop does not currently support push notifications — use the MCP Inspector for testing.
subscribe_default fails with a file not found error
Create the watched.txt file manually before starting the server: 'touch src/mcp_observer_server/watched.txt'. This file is .gitignored and is not included in the repository.
uv command not found when running make start
Install uv with 'curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh' (macOS/Linux) or follow the uv installation guide for Windows. Alternatively, run the server directly with 'python src/mcp_observer_server/server.py' if you have the dependencies installed via pip.
Frequently Asked Questions about MCP Observer
What is MCP Observer?
MCP Observer is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that mcp server that provides server-to-client notifications for file changes that the client subscribes to It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install MCP Observer?
Follow the installation instructions on the MCP Observer GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with MCP Observer?
MCP Observer works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is MCP Observer free to use?
Yes, MCP Observer is open source and available under the MIT license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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Browse More File Systems MCP Servers
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